Three ProTour teams reported for Tour de Langkawi

Following on from last week’s announcement of 14 teams for the Tour de Langkawi, three ProTour teams have been reported as taking part in the 2.HC event.

Astana, Caisse d’Epargne and Footon Servetto will make the trip to Malaysia prior to the March 1 start, considerably boosting the standard of the field.

While the news hasn’t yet been announced by the race organisers, national news agency Bernama quoted two high-ranking officials as sources.

It said that Youth and Sports Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohd Yassin Salleh confirmed the participation of ProTour teams, and said that more news was pending.

"We are still waiting for three more teams to confirm their participation until the end of the month," he said.

LTdL 2010 technical director Jamaludin Mahmood said that Alberto Contador was unlikely to compete on the Astana squad, but that he hoped other big names would be part of the teams.

He named two more ProTour squads as having been invited. "We are awaiting confirmation from HTC Columbia and Team Sky. Otherwise, we may have to invite other Asian or European teams.”

Pro Continental team ISD – Neri was previously the highest-ranked team named as taking part. The news that at least three ProTour teams will compete is a big boost for the event, which begins on March 1st with a 174.5 kilometre race from Kota Bharu to Kuala Berang.

This year’s race will be the 15th edition of the Malaysian tour. Previous winners include Tom Danielson and Chris Horner (USA), Freddy Gonzalez and José Serpa (Columbia), Ryan Cox and David George (South Africa) and the Frenchman Anthony Charteau.